The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-09-21
LYNCHING DAYS.
THE VIGILANTES OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA.
How Mexican Injustice Drove Amer
leans to Take Law and Rope
Into Their Own Hands
"A Record Of Blood.


A letter from Paso Roblcs, CAL, to the
New York Commercial Adrertiser says:
This part of the State, being off the main
lines of travel, has always been kept IN
the background, and until very recent
period the administration of justice was
very lax. Indeed, it is but short time
since man was shot to pieces in cold
blood, in village not far from this place,
and the murderer was never even put un-
der arrest for his crime. The rifle and
the revolver have furnished the only law
known here, and tales of bloodshed and
crime can be unearthed which make one
wonder if it can be possible that this is
indeed the nineteenth century, and that
we are living under Government sup
posed to be as near perfection as pos
sible.
The history of what is now known as
San Luis Obispo County has been blood
stained record. A single incident which
occurred in the early days of its settle
ment by the whites will serve as an illus
tration. About eight miles north OF this
place is the old mission of San Miguel,
founded on the bank of the Salinas
River, ninety years ago, by the coadju.
tors of Fra Junipero Sierra, This estab-
lishment was the second in size of its
kind in Alta California After the segre-
CATION of the mission property by the
Mexican government this was finally
abandoned, and it was supposed to be
open to occupancy by any one who felt
so disposed. Hither CAM, in 1S47, an
Englishman named Read, with his wife
and family, consisting of three children
and a negro servant. They repaired a
portion of the mission building and took
up their residence there. AS this was
the only travelled road from the northern
to the southern part of the State, and
settlements were at widely separated
points, the Reads were often called upon
to entertain travellers over night. Read
had made money before he came here,
and was accustomed to boast of his sue
cess-a custom which cost him his life.
One night there arrived at the mission a
party of sailors who had deserted from
vessel lying in Monterey harbor,
and who were on their way south toward
the mines, which had been discovered
there long before Marshal made his great
find at the Coloma saw mill. AS was his
custom Read entertained these sailors in
hospitable fashion, and in the course of
the evening was led to talk of the wealth
he had accumulated since leaving his
home in England. The cupidity of the
sailors was excited, and after all had re-
tired for the night they invaded the
apartments occupied by the Read family
and murdered every soul, even taking an
infant by the heels and dashing out its
brains against one of the pillars of the
corridor. Then they loaded themselves
with plunder and pursued their journey
southwark. A day or two later the
crime was discovered, and party was at
once organized and started in pursuit.
They tracked the murderers through San
Luis Obispo and sSanta Barbara, and
finally overlook them on the seashore,
some eight or ten miles beyond the latter
place. Here short but determined bat
tie occurred, at the end of which every
one of the murderous crew lay dead on
the sands, while their bones were left to
become prey to the buzzards and coy
otes.
From the very earliest settlement this
section has been "a dark and bloody
ground" 1t was infested by maraudcrs
of all nationalities, but especially by
Mexicans, or "greasers, and to this day
there are less localities where q white
man is not safe unless we'll armed and
constantly on his guard. The first hang
ing OF criminals outside the law occurred
as FAR back as 1853. A party of ten men
murdered pcdlernot far from this place
and then started for Los Angeles going
by way of the town of San Luis Obispo.
There they were 50 foolish as to boast of
their crime, and for time were not mo
lested- After their departure, however.
they were pursued by committee OF
citizens. aud overtaken. One OF the
murderers was killed on the spot. Three
were captured, but the Others escaped.
The. three prisoners were brought back to
San Luis Obispo, and hanged in. public
on. their arrival, without benefit Of the
laws. delay. Another was subsequently
captured, and he, too, was summarily
suspended III the end of rope. But this
did not put stop to crime. Hardly
month passed but travellers on lonely
roads were. waylaid and murdered and
as many as four bodies have been found
at single time along the highway Lead
ing from north to south. Invariably the
murderers were Meylcans. Althoughmany
were arrested for the crimes, they
managed to get free again. The Ameri-
cans were very few, and it was impossi-
bic to geta 1greaser" jury to convict
fcllow-countryman, no matter how
strong the proof of his guilt.
In 1858, however, the Americans were
sufficiently strong in numbers to take the
law into. their own hands, and now be-
gan the efficient work of the vigilance
committee. A party OF eight Alexicans'
went to a ranch = short distance south
east Of this point, which had. recently
been purchased by two Franchmen,.
named Baratie and Borel. These, the.
Mexicans deliberately murdered. The
wife of the former they turned loose; and
she. finally found her way back to eivii-
zationL The news of the murder quickly
onroo1 ord q Ssprnoser" was soon cauoht